Lady Mustangs fight their way into a top four finish

SILVER CITY — The Western New Mexico University women’s golf team fought their way into the top-four to advance at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships Monday at the Coldwater Golf Club.

Needing to move from fifth into the top-four to continue in the RMAC Championships, the Lady Mustangs got the round they needed of a 295, the best of any team through the first two rounds, to climb to fourth with a 611 after a 316 opening round score. WNMU nearly caught the teams ahead of them finishing just three back of Colorado State Unoversiuty-Pueblo for third, four back of UC-Colorado Springs for second and six back of MSU Denver. MSU Denver and UC-Colorado Springs will play a Medal Match round to decide the RMAC Tournament Champion, while WNMU will play CSU-Pueblo for third place.

Colorado Mesa’s Taylor Walters won the individual title with a 143 to win by two-strokes.

Freshman Shelby Turner ended up medaling as she placed fifth with a 148 as she came back strong from an opening round 76 to end with a 72. Turner led the field in par-five scoring with a five-under 4.38, while adding 23 pars, four birdies and was one of three golfers to score an eagle. Her strong finish lands her on the All-Tournament First-Team.

Junior Bobbi Pierson, the back-to-back RMAC Summit Award winner, was within range of medaling as well before settling for a 152 (77-75) to tie for eighth to land on the All-Tournament Team. She ended up one-over on par-five (5.13) and led the team in par-four (4.25) and in pars with 24, while coming away with two birdies.

Senior Cheyenne Molina had a second round to remember. After opening with an 82, she caught fire to help move WNMU up the leader board carding a 72 to finish with a 154 and into a tie for 13th. She was even on par-five and was three-over on par-three (3.38). Molina led the team in birdies with six and also added 18 pars.

Junior Adrianna Grijalva also had a strong second day. After having a similar opening round to Molina with an 81, she trimmed five-shots off of that to post a 76 for a 157 to tie for 20th. Grijalva led the Lady Mustangs in par-three (3.13) and was even on par-five. She collected four birdies and 17 pars.

Junior Gabby Singh rounded out the top-five for the Lady Mustangs with rounds of 88 for a 176 to tie for 57th. She ended up five-over on par-three (3.63) and had eight pars.